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On September 26, 2022, the FDA approved a new drug — in the form of eyedrops — by Santen to treat open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Will glaucoma be cured in future?

Glaucoma is the leading cause of permanent blindness worldwide, and the second leading cause of permanent blindness in the United States. An estimated three million people in the United States have glaucoma, a number that is expected to increase to 6.3 million in the next 30 years.

What is the latest treatment cure for glaucoma in 2022?

MIGS – Minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) have doubled in popularity over the last decade, according to Michael Chaglasian, OD, associate professor, Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, and real-world data indicate their efficacy in treating POAG, primary angle closure glaucoma, normotension glaucoma, and OHT with a mean IOP decrease of 15.6% and a 68% decrease in the number of medications. Chaglasian mentioned some of the latest technologies that have been introduced that include the ab-interno canal-based MIGS stent (Hydrus, Alcon), which is a miniscule scaffold inserted into the main drainage canal to hold it open to lower IOP and reduce the numbers of medications needed.

The HORIZON data showed at 24 months that the microstent achieved a reduction of 2.3 mmHg more than that in eyes with no stent. A new innovation available for use in 2023 (FDA approved in 2022) is an updated micro-invasive, trabecular bypass, implantable device for standalone glaucoma treatment (iStent Infinite, Glaukos) for patients with POAG refractory to medical and/or surgical treatment.

With this technology, 3 stents are placed in the eye over 6 clock hours. FDA clinical trials identified 20% or greater reductions in IOP in almost three-quarters of patients; 47% of patients achieved a 30% or greater decease in IOP. Other MIGS options include canaloplasty, which is performed using a microcatheter to cut and open the trabecular meshwork to reduce the IOP; goniotomy, which uses a Kahook Dual Blade, New World Medical), cuts and removes the trabecular meshwork in patients with OAG to improve aqueous flow to the canal; and trabeculotomy, which opens the drainage system to reduce the IOP.

What is the new glaucoma treatment for 2023?

Eric Mikula, PhD: – Thank you, David. First, I would like to thank Ophthalmology Times for inviting me to briefly speak on behalf of the extraordinary team at ViaLase and it’s truly exciting technology. ViaLase has developed a novel non-incisional glaucoma treatment, called femtosecond laser image-guided high-precision trabeculectomy, or FLigHT, for short.

• As you mentioned, I’m here at New Orleans, ARVO 2023, where we presented the data for our FLigHT thermal collateral damage study.
• So briefly, we performed the FLigHT procedure in corneal scleral rooms mounted to an artificial anterior chamber.
• Afterwards, tissue samples were fixed, sectioned, and then imaged using second harmonic generation imaging, histology and transmission electron microscopy.

The imaging revealed unperturbed, intact collagen fibers and the presence of Schlemm’s canal endothelial cells in the immediate vicinity of the FLigHT channel. More broadly, the outer wall Schlemm’s canal was intact. Next, we directly measure temperature rise during the FLigHT procedure and cadaver tissues and measure the maximum temperature rise of 3.1 degrees Celsius.

Are people working on a cure for glaucoma?

Researchers are hard at work developing treatments that range from better diagnostic equipment and longer-lasting medications to nerve regeneration and stem cell rejuvenation. It’s a lot of work, and is constantly evolving as our understanding of glaucoma improves.

Can you live 50 years with glaucoma?

Can I still lead a full life after being diagnosed with glaucoma? – Absolutely. The aim of treating patients with glaucoma is for them to be able to maintain their quality of life and live as normally as possible, Patients with glaucoma have a normal life expectancy and, with treatment, can carry out activities as they did before diagnosis.

How close are we to glaucoma cure?

Successful Treatment With Gene Therapy – The University of Bristol conducted a research showing that glaucoma could be treated successfully with a single shot using gene therapy. This innovation could improve treatment options, effectiveness, and quality of life for many patients.

1. A team from the Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences tested a novel method that could provide additional treatment options and benefits.
2. Scientists target the ciliary body, which generates the fluid that keeps the normal pressure within the eye.
3. Through the latest gene-editing tool called CRISPR, a gene named Aquaporin 1 in the ciliary body was inactivated.

This approach reduced eye pressure. While there’s still no cure for glaucoma, the research team hopes to advance towards clinical trials for this new technology in the near future. Its success could allow long-term treatment of the disease with a single eye injection, saving patients time and money, and improving their quality of life.

Has anyone been healed of glaucoma?

What is glaucoma? – Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve. The symptoms can start so slowly that you may not notice them. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

Can glaucoma be permanently stopped?

Know the Facts About Glaucoma –

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and can result in vision loss and even blindness. About 3 million Americans have glaucoma. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, results in increased eye pressure. There are often no early symptoms, which is why 50% of people with glaucoma don’t know they have the disease. There is no cure (yet) for glaucoma, but if it’s caught early, you can preserve your vision and prevent vision loss. Taking action to preserve your vision health is key.

Can you live a normal life with glaucoma?

Receiving a glaucoma diagnosis can be frightening. References to what we now know as glaucoma can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, Many years ago, a glaucoma diagnosis would most likely lead to blindness. Today, armed with more knowledge and treatment options, a glaucoma diagnosis is no longer a precursor to blindness in most cases.

Can stem cells cure glaucoma?

Summary – It is an exciting time for the adult stem cell field, as the pace of new discoveries and understanding about how stem cells can be used for potential therapies is moving quickly. However, there are currently no FDA-approved stem cell treatments for glaucoma.

Some glaucoma patients, especially if they have very little vision left, may feel that they have little to lose by paying for an unproven treatment using adult stem cells. However, it is possible to lose all vision or even have worse outcomes such as loss of the eye or tumor growth. Despite these cautions, we should continue investing our resources into legitimate research with adult stem cells, developing potential uses in the treatment of eye disease.

We just have to be patient and focus on treatments that have been carefully studied and tested in scientifically rigorous clinical trials. About BrightFocus Foundation Macular Degeneration Research (MDR), a program of BrightFocus Foundation, funds innovative research worldwide spanning a wide range of approaches to better understand, prevent, and treat age-related macular degeneration. Since inception, MDR has awarded nearly $46 million in funding across 320 scientific research grants.

Learn more, BrightFocus Foundation is a premier nonprofit funder of research worldwide to defeat Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. BrightFocus shares the latest research findings, expert information, and resources to empower the millions impacted by these diseases.  Learn more at brightfocus.org,

The information provided here is a public service of BrightFocus Foundation and should not in any way substitute for personalized advice of a qualified healthcare professional; it is not intended to constitute medical advice. Please consult your physician for personalized medical advice.

Is there anything new for glaucoma?

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Ashish Singh, MD

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about three million Americans have glaucoma and the disease is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. January is officially National Glaucoma Awareness month and during this time, it’s important to spread the word about this group of diseases that affects many Americans every year.

Unfortunately, researchers estimate that more than half of people with glaucoma do not know they have it which is why it is crucial to recognize the various preventative methods that people can take to protect themselves from vision loss. VMAIL Weekend recently sat down with Ashish Singh, MD, who specializes in cataract and refractive surgery.

As a board-certified surgeon at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers serving patients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Dr. Singh performs laser-assisted cataract surgery, advanced technology intraocular lenses, and LASIK. He also specializes in glaucoma treatment using laser and minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS).

Question 1: What are the early signs of glaucoma and what can patients do to protect themselves from developing the disease in the first place. A: One of the most challenging parts of glaucoma management is that the early signs are very difficult to detect.

• Many people call glaucoma the “silent thief of sight” because patients don’t feel any pain or have any idea it is developing.
• Glaucoma first affects peripheral vision which is difficult for patients to detect, and it is already late stage by the time it affects central vision.
• The best way for patients to protect themselves from developing glaucoma is to have an annual eye exam with their eye doctor for glaucoma screening.

Question 2: What is the profile of a typical glaucoma patient and how much does a family history of the disease play into one’s chances of developing glaucoma? A: The typical profile of a glaucoma patient is age over 60, being nearsighted (myopic), having systemic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, having thin corneas, having elevated intraocular pressure, and being Hispanic or African American ethnicity.

Many patients with glaucoma have a strong family history, so that plays a major role in developing glaucoma. Question 3: What advice can you give optometrists and ophthalmologists for identifying and treating patients with glaucoma? A: My advice to eyecare providers would be to have a high index of suspicion for glaucoma in patients who fit the typical demographic, pay close attention to intraocular pressure measurements (preferably by applanation), and perform a detailed exam of the optic nerve (size, neuro-retinal rim health, and symmetry between the eyes).

Ancillary testing such as Optic Nerve OCT and Humphrey Visual Field are also very helpful in identifying glaucoma. Many key studies such as the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) stress the importance of early treatment of glaucoma to prevent vision loss, and I encourage eyecare providers to look to these studies in the literature to guide their treatment philosophy.

Question 4: And since early detection is key, how can ECPs encourage high risk patients to get screened on a regular basis? A: Eyecare providers can encourage high risk patients to get screened on a regular basis by explaining that we have medical and surgical interventions available to help protect vision and maintain an excellent quality of life.

Question 5: I understand that you specialize in glaucoma treatment using laser and minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS). Can you talk a little bit about these treatments. And are there other new treatments on the horizon that could be used to treat glaucoma patients? A: The field of glaucoma has had an explosion of new medical and surgical treatments in the last decade.

The ultimate goal of all current glaucoma treatments is to lower the intraocular pressure to prevent damage to the optic nerve. This includes new eyedrops that help either decrease the amount of aqueous fluid made in the eye or help the aqueous fluid drain from the eye more effectively. When medical interventions do not adequately lower the intraocular pressure, surgical interventions are done.

One such treatment is Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) which is a painless, in-office procedure that takes a few minutes and uses laser pulses that open the trabecular meshwork (the drain of the eye). The new surgical treatments for glaucoma are called Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgeries (MIGS).

1. These are surgical procedures that are most often combined with cataract surgery to lower the intraocular pressure with a high safety profile and modest efficacy.
2. A few examples of MIGS procedures are the iStent inject which implants two bypass valves in the trabecular meshwork, and the Kahook Dual Blade Goniotomy, which removes the trabecular meshwork to allow for better aqueous outflow.

Both procedures help lower intraocular pressure and provide an added benefit of glaucoma treatment during cataract surgery. New glaucoma treatments on the horizon include MIGS procedures that access the supraciliary space (an alternative drainage pathway in the eye), glaucoma drug eluting rings that can be placed under the eyelids and contact lenses that can monitor the intraocular pressure continuously throughout the day.

It’s truly an exciting time in the field of glaucoma! As part of January’s National Glaucoma Awareness Month, Prevent Blindness, the nation’s leading voluntary eye health nonprofit organization, is offering a wide variety of free resources to help glaucoma patients and their caregivers find the support they need to address the many aspects of the eye disease.

For more information, read “Prevent Blindness Kicks Off National Glaucoma Awareness Month by Inviting Patients and Caregivers to Join Glaucoma Community.” Start-Up’s 24-Hour Contact Lens Has the Potential to Detect Glaucoma at Its Earliest Stages WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—Imagine if a contact lens could monitor intraocular pressure (IOP) in a person’s eye on a 24-hour basis, alerting patients and doctors alike about the possibility of glaucoma.

	New smart soft contact lens technology developed by a multidisciplinary team of engineers and health care researchers at Purdue University and Indiana University School of Optometry looks to gather important intraocular pressure measurements for 24-hour cycles as a way to detect glaucoma. A company called BVS Sight Inc. has been launched to develop the technology. Photo courtesy of Purdue University, photo by Rebecca McElhoe

BVS Sight Inc. is the first company created through a partnership between Boomerang Ventures Studio, Purdue Foundry and the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization, The partnership develops Purdue-related health care start-ups and health care-related intellectual property yet to reach the market.

Chi Hwan Lee, the Leslie A. Geddes associate professor of Biomedical Engineering in Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, led a research team that developed new ocular technology to continuously monitor intraocular pressure (IOP) in a person’s eye. IOP is the only known modifiable risk factor for glaucoma, which can steal a person’s vision without early warning signs or pain and affects more than 80 million people worldwide, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.

Studies have suggested that IOP variability is associated with retinal structure damage that occurs in patients with glaucoma and that patients with greater IOP variability may be at higher risk for glaucoma progression. Lee, who has worked on this technology for six years, specializes in sticktronics, which are stickerlike items that contain electronics or smart technology.

• His lab develops wearable biomedical devices that can continuously monitor chronic diseases or health conditions in an unobtrusive manner.
• Lee is BVS Sight’s co-founder and chief scientific officer.
• He has a joint appointment in Purdue’s School of Mechanical Engineering and courtesy appointments in the School of Materials Engineering and the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences,

Some of the current wearable tonometers—or devices that measure the pressure inside one’s eyes—are equipped with an integrated circuit chip, which leads to increased lens thickness and stiffness compared to a typical commercial soft contact lens, in many cases causing discomfort for patients.

• Lee’s version is different.
• To address this unmet need, we developed a unique class of smart soft contact lenses built upon various commercial brands of soft contact lenses for continuous 24-hour IOP monitoring, even during sleep at home,” Lee said.
• Our smart soft contact lenses retain the intrinsic lens features of lens power, biocompatibility, softness, transparency, wettability, oxygen transmissibility and overnight wearability.

Having all these features at the same time is crucial to the success of translating the smart soft contact lenses into glaucoma care, but these features are lacking in current wearable ocular tonometers.” Dr. Eric Beier, partner and chief medical officer at Boomerang, said Lee and his smart contact lens innovation piqued his and his colleagues’ interest for several reasons.

Our interviews with optometrists and ophthalmologists demonstrated that Lee’s technology has the potential to become a new standard of care for diagnosing and managing glaucoma patients,” Beier said. “Also, founder fit is an important factor for Boomerang in determining which technologies to commercialize.

In working with Lee as we evaluated his technology, we determined that he is a great fit for Boomerang and our venture studio model. “We also liked that Lee has been very forward-thinking in developing the technology by also developing a methodology to scale up the manufacturing of his smart contact lenses.” Beier will be a director on BVS Sight’s board and continue to support the company through his chief medical officer and management roles at Boomerang Studio.

Beier said BVS Sight must achieve several milestones to bring the smart contact lens technology to market. “We need to optimize the integrated system for patient and clinician use: smart contact lenses, power source, eyeglasses, sleep mask and software,” Beier said. “Developing medical technologies is very complex, and the company will need to work through multiple challenges including clinical studies, regulatory approval, reimbursement and fundraising.

These are all areas where Boomerang brings resources and expertise to help our portfolio companies successfully and timely navigate through these complexities.” Beier said since the Purdue and Boomerang relationship began in 2021, Boomerang has reviewed several Purdue technologies.

What is the best treatment for glaucoma in the world?

Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery – As technology has progressed, less invasive techniques have emerged that have improved the safety profile for glaucoma surgery. Today, more micro-invasive surgical options are available for patients who are interested in effective glaucoma management without having to rely solely on the continuous use of prescription medication.

Do people eventually go blind with glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a serious, lifelong eye disease that can lead to vision loss if not controlled. But for most people, glaucoma does not have to lead to blindness. That is because glaucoma is controllable with modern treatment, and there are many choices to help keep glaucoma from further damaging your eyes.

Treatment cannot reverse damage that has already occurred, but it can prevent further vision loss. Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes loss of sight by damaging a part of the eye called the optic nerve. This nerve sends information from your eyes to your brain. When glaucoma damages your optic nerve, you begin to lose patches of vision, usually side vision (peripheral vision).

Download the Glaucoma Checklist

When is it too late to treat glaucoma?

Glaucoma – The Eye Experts – The Clear Choice Glaucoma is a chronic disease and could potentially lead to blindness if it is not detected early enough. Glaucoma is one of the top causes for blindness, among other diseases. In the beginning stages of glaucoma, patients typically do not experience any symptoms.

Eye drops to lower the pressure – very important for you to use them faithfully! Laser treatment to open up channels of fluid flow. Special surgeries if the first two treatments have not proved effective.

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can cause blindness. It damages the optic nerve, which carries information from your eyes to the visual center in your brain. This damage can result in permanent vision loss. The most common type of glaucoma has no early warning signs and can only be detected during a comprehensive eye exam.

If undetected and untreated, glaucoma first causes peripheral vision loss and eventually can lead to blindness. By the time you notice vision loss from glaucoma, it’s too late. The lost vision cannot be restored, and it’s very likely you may experience additional vision loss, even after glaucoma treatment begins.

The only way to protect yourself and your family from vision loss and even blindness from glaucoma is to visit an eye doctor near you for routine comprehensive eye exams. Only an optometrist or ophthalmologist is trained to spot the early warning signs of glaucoma and to begin glaucoma treatment before vision loss occurs.

What is the best lifestyle for glaucoma?

Fruits – Diets high in fruits such as have been shown to lower the risk of glaucoma development. The most discussed benefit is through antioxidants. As oxidative stress is associated with optic nerve injury, fruits high in antioxidants, such as pomegranate, acai berries, cranberries offer the most neuroprotection.

What percent of glaucoma patients go blind?

Even with treatment, 15% to 20% of patients become blind in at least one eye in 15 to 20 years of follow-up. In a recent study, Peters et al. found that at the last visit before death, 42.2% of treated patients were blind unilaterally and 16.4% bilaterally.

Does glaucoma get worse with age?

Learn why age is one of the major risk factors for both primary open-angle glaucoma and primary angle-closure glaucoma. Many different studies have demonstrated the relationship between age and glaucoma. Older age is not only a risk factor for the diagnosis of glaucoma, but also for its progression.

How long can you have glaucoma before you go blind?

Glaucoma is a slowly progressing problem. On an average, untreated Glaucoma takes around 10-15 years to advance from early damage to total blindness. With an IOP (Intraocular Pressure) of 21-25 mmHg it takes 15 yrs to progress, an IOP of 25-30 mmHg around seven years and pressure more than 30 mmHg takes three years.

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What makes glaucoma worse?

Glaucome – Foods To Avoid Glaucoma is a common group of eye conditions that can cause blindness. This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. Glaucoma is irreversible, but there are ways to stop its progression, starting with simple changes to diet and what foods to avoid if you have glaucoma.

1. Glaucoma usually develops slowly and can take 15 years for untreated early-onset glaucoma to develop into blindness.
2. However, if the pressure in the eye is high, the disease is likely to develop more rapidly.
3. The easiest way to help slow the progression of glaucoma is to eliminate certain foods that cause high eye pressure.

First up, specific kinds of fats. High trans fats have been proven to cause damage to the optic nerve. Time to cut out fried foods, baked goods and any product with an ingredient list that includes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Saturated foods that include red meat, beef, lard, shortening and oils can also worsen glaucoma.

Another reason to lower the amount of saturated fats in your diet is their association with weight gain. Research has suggested that a higher body mass index (BMI) may be associated with an increased risk of glaucoma and higher intraocular eye pressure (IOP). Opt instead for saturated fats that include nuts, avocados, olive oil and pumpkin, sesame and flax seeds.

Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for glaucoma patients because they decrease intraocular eye pressure, increase ocular blood flow and improve optic neuroprotective function. Omega-3 rich foods include fatty fish such as salmon or halibut, as well as eggs and lean meat.

1. Carbohydrates are the body’s primary source for energy.
2. There are two types of carbohydrates, simple and complex.
3. Simple carbohydrates do not fuel the body the same way complex carbohydrates do.
4. Complex carbs contain more nutrients, are used more efficiently by the body and are an essential key to long-term health.

Swapping simple carbohydrates such as white potatoes, white bread, pasta, juice, milk, sugar, honey, corn syrup and cereals for more sustaining complex carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, yams, quinoa, brown rice, oatmeal, lentils and squash are a great idea.

• Simple carbs break down quickly and spike blood sugar levels.
• Complex carbs help maintain healthy blood sugar levels by releasing glucose over time.
• In addition to reducing the rate of glaucoma progression, managing blood sugar levels aids in maintaining a healthy weight and can even help guard against the risks associated with Type 2,

Those with have a greater risk for macular degeneration and glaucoma. Considerable caffeine consumption may elevate intraocular eye pressure associated with glaucoma. Drinking more than five cups of caffeinated coffee per day can increase risk of glaucoma as well.

1. Alcohol consumption should also be limited.
2. Lastly, identify any food allergies.
3. Common food allergens include soy, wheat, dairy and corn.
4. Studies suggest that disruption in the immune system may play a role in developing glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
5. For more information regarding how to prevent or treat glaucoma, please contact Retina Consultants of Nevada at 702-369-0200 or,

: Glaucome – Foods To Avoid

Is glaucoma irreparable?

What are the symptoms of glaucoma? – People want to know what the early warning symptoms of glaucoma are. The problem is that for some types of glaucoma, there aren’t any early warning symptoms, and changes to vision can happen gradually, so the symptoms are easy to miss.

1. Because many people with open-angle glaucoma don’t have any noticeable symptoms, it’s very important to have routine eye exams to detect this disease in its earlier stages.
2. Glaucoma damage is irreversible, so you need early detection and treatment to prevent blindness.
3. Closed-angle glaucoma has more severe symptoms that tend to come on suddenly.

With any type, you may experience:

Eye pain or pressure. Headaches. Rainbow-colored halos around lights. Low vision, blurred vision, narrowed vision (tunnel vision) or blind spots. Nausea and vomiting, Red eyes.

Can eye be replaced after glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging the nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve. If glaucoma medicines and laser treatment haven’t helped to treat your glaucoma, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Trabeculectomy (tra-BECK-yoo-LECK-toh-mee) Glaucoma implant surgery Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)

If you need glaucoma surgery in both eyes, your doctor will only do surgery on 1 eye at a time.

Can last stage of glaucoma be cured?

How will my eye doctor check for glaucoma? – Eye doctors can check for glaucoma as part of a comprehensive dilated eye exam. The exam is simple and painless — your doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil and then check your eyes for glaucoma and other eye problems. The exam includes a visual field test to check your side vision.

Can you live a full life with glaucoma?

Receiving a glaucoma diagnosis can be frightening. References to what we now know as glaucoma can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, Many years ago, a glaucoma diagnosis would most likely lead to blindness. Today, armed with more knowledge and treatment options, a glaucoma diagnosis is no longer a precursor to blindness in most cases.

When is it too late to treat glaucoma?

Glaucoma – The Eye Experts – The Clear Choice Glaucoma is a chronic disease and could potentially lead to blindness if it is not detected early enough. Glaucoma is one of the top causes for blindness, among other diseases. In the beginning stages of glaucoma, patients typically do not experience any symptoms.

Eye drops to lower the pressure – very important for you to use them faithfully! Laser treatment to open up channels of fluid flow. Special surgeries if the first two treatments have not proved effective.

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can cause blindness. It damages the optic nerve, which carries information from your eyes to the visual center in your brain. This damage can result in permanent vision loss. The most common type of glaucoma has no early warning signs and can only be detected during a comprehensive eye exam.

If undetected and untreated, glaucoma first causes peripheral vision loss and eventually can lead to blindness. By the time you notice vision loss from glaucoma, it’s too late. The lost vision cannot be restored, and it’s very likely you may experience additional vision loss, even after glaucoma treatment begins.

The only way to protect yourself and your family from vision loss and even blindness from glaucoma is to visit an eye doctor near you for routine comprehensive eye exams. Only an optometrist or ophthalmologist is trained to spot the early warning signs of glaucoma and to begin glaucoma treatment before vision loss occurs.

How many years can you have glaucoma?

Most of the time, glaucoma does not lead to blindness if it is treated. Without treatment, glaucoma will eventually cause blindness. Even with treatment, about 15 percent of the time glaucoma can lead to blindness in at least one eye over a period of 20 years.

Vision loss from glaucoma generally progresses slowly. With proper management and timely treatment, vision loss can be slowed or even halted altogether. Vision loss from glaucoma generally progresses slowly. With proper management and timely treatment, vision loss can be slowed or even halted altogether.

Treatments and prevention methods can help you preserve your sight. Most of the time, glaucoma does not lead to blindness.